Cut-out for electric lamps



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

0. HEISLER.

GUT-OUT FOR ELEGTRIG LAMPS.

Patented Dec. 11, 1888.

N. PETERS. Pnomume m hun Wnshmghan. D, c.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

U. HEISLER.

GUT-OUT FOR BLBGTRIO LAMPS.

No. 394,180. Patented Dec. 11, 1888.

Q V Vwmoow avwawto'c M m M 95 $9 wow, I JMW UNITED STATES PATENT CHARLESHEISLER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

CUT-OUT FOR ELECTRIC LAMPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 394,180, dated December11, 1888. Application filed May 17, 1886. Renewed March 9, 1888. SerialNo. 266,704. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES HEIsLER, a citizen of the United States,residing at St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Cut-Outs for Electric Lamps; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to means for shortcireuiting an electric lamp whenthe lamp fails to operate normally; and it consists in providingelectro-magnetic and thermal de vices which mutually co-operate inassuring the continuity of the line and thereby promote the efficiencyof an electric-lighting system.

The particular form in which I have embodied my invention is illustratedin the ac companying drawings, in whieh- Figure 1 is a view of mycut-out with a single incandescent lamp attached thereto. Fig. 2 is aview taken from the left of Fig. l, the lamp and a part of the frame ofthe cutout being removed. Fig. 3 is a similar view taken from the rightof Fig. 1. Fig. a is a plan of the cut-out with the cap removed. Fig. 5is a bottom view of the cut-out. Fig. 6 is a section through line a: .r,Fig. 3, looking to the right; and Fig. 7 is an enlarged view of thecut-out with a lamp attached, modified as to some of its details anddesigned especially to show the circuits.

The same letters of reference indicate the same parts throughout.

Referring to the drawings by letter, A is a cut-out, and B an electricincandescent lamp attached to the bottom thereof. The cut out isattached directly to an insulating-base, O, which base also supports thescrew-posts c c, to which a cap, D, is attached. The cap D has ascrew-threaded socket, D, by means of which it may be secured to afixture or support. Upon the base C is mounted a frame, E, which isformed at one end into a post or standard, E, which supports anelectro-magnet,'F. The frame extends thence across the upper surface ofthe base under the electromagnet, and is formed at the other end into abroad standard, E, as shown most clearly in Fig. 0. \Vithin the frameformed by the parts E, E, and E, but insulated therefrom, is a frame orbar, G, which extends alongside the electro-magnet and between thestandard E and the armature Z of the magnet. The frame E is connected atbindingscrew c on the post E to one end of the line-circuit, and theframe or bar G is connected at bindingscrew 9 with the other end of theline. It is evident, therefore, that the circuit of the cutout will becomplete whenever there is electrical connection between the frames Eand G.

In the normal condition of the apparatus connection is made between theframes by two paths-one through the electroanagnet F, the terminals ofwhich are connected, respect ively, to the post or standard E and theframe G, (see Fig. 4,) and the other through the lamp B by a coursepresently to be described.

The magnet F is of very high resistance, so that the greater portion ofthe current shall normally pass through the lamp and render itincandescent.

The lamp-connections which admit of the passage of the current throughthe lamp itself will now be set forth.

The lamp maybe of any ordinary construction and have terminals of anydesired shape. I have represented a lamp having a braided filament, Z),and post-terminals f f. Corresponding to the post-terminals on thebottom of the cut-out are socketed posts II and I for the reception ofthe post-terminals f and f The post- I is secured in a fixed position bya screw, 2', which connects it mechanically and electrically with theframe or bar G. The screw i is insulated from the frame E where itpasses through. The post H. is adj ustably connected with the frame Ethrough the bar I-I, nut h, and screw 71. (See Figs. 2 and 5.) Byloosening the nut the post II may be moved into any desired position.The object of this is to allow for variations in the construction oflamps haying post-terminals. The post II being connected to the frame Fand the post I to the frame or bar G, it is evident that a circuit willnormally be complete through the cut-out and lamp, unless the parts arefor some reason out of order. The current entering at binding-post 6will divide, part of it passing through the high-resistanceelectromagnet F, and part through the frame E, screw h, bar H, socketedpost I-I, lamp-terminal f, filament b, lamp-terminal f, socketed post I,screw 11, frame or bar G, and bindingpost g to line.

The armature Z of the electro-magnet F is attached to a spring, Z, whichis secured to the frame E by the same screw which con-' nects the latterwith the post H. The spring tends to keep the armature away from themagnet-core. The back-stop It extends behind the armature from a post,It, formed on frame E. The armature is bent back a little at the top,and on the bent-back portion of it rests the end of an arm, m, which ispivoted in uprights on the standard E The spring 01 tends to throw theOuter end of the arm on downward in an obvious manner. Directly belowthe arm m, and secured to the frame or bar G, is a part of springcontact-arms o 0. \Vhenever the end of the armature is removed fromunder the arm on, the latter is pressed downward into contact with thespring-arms 0 0, and thereby makes a short circuit between the frames Gand E, with which, respectively, the spring-arms and the arm M areconnected. This happens whenever for any reason the lamp becomesinoperative. The current is then forced to pass through the magnet,causing it to attract its armature and to release the spring-actuatedarm, as above described. By the completion of the short circuit the lineis kept in order and no other lamps are disturbed.

Besides the short-circuiting device operated by electro-magnetism, Iprovide a thermal cut-out which will operate in case the electromagnetdevice fails to act properly from accidental causes. To an arm, 6,running out from the standard E, I attach a rod, 19, made of a fusiblealloy, and I run it along beside the coils of the magnet. I attach alink, q, to the free end of this rod, and 0011- nect the link by aspiral metallic spring to a post, E formed in one piece with thestandard E \Vhen in position, the link q surrounds a rod or pin, '1',without, however, touching it. The rod or pin is fixed in the frame orbar G. I also attach, by solder or other means, a pointed metallicpiece, 5, to the bar G, and run it up so that the pointed end shall restclose to the fusible rod 19.

The cut-out here described is brought into operation whenever the rod 1)is melted. In that event the link q falls or is drawn by the metallicspring into contact with the pin 0*, thus completing electricalconnection between the two frames. Supposing, now, that the lamp shouldfail to operate and the electro-magnet for any reason fail to attractits armature at once, as by reason of the latter becoming accidentallycaught, the magnet-coils will become heated, and by fusing the alloyclose the short circuit, as above indicated. In case of a totalinterruption of the magnet-circuit, (in

' which case the coils would not become heated,) a spark will crossbetween the point of the piece 3 and the rod p, fusing the latter andclosing the short circuit, as before.

It is of course necessary in all apparatus of this kind to provide, inaddition to automatic short-circuitin g devices, means whereby the lampcan be cut out at will from the main circuit. The means which I employare shown most clearly in Figs. 2, 3, and 4. Referring to those figures,it will be seen that an arm, T, is pivoted on an extension of thebackstop It, between the posts 75 and 1*. On the top of the lever T is aprojection, 2?, upon which presses normally a spring, to, mounted on apost, 6 formed on the frame E. The free end of the spring rests over theinner end of the binding-screw g, but is kept out of contact with it bythe projection 2. The lever T has pivoted to it a handle, V, whichextends down through a hole in the base 0 into a position where it canbe easily reached by the hand. \Yhen it is desired to cut out the lamp,the handle is raised, carrying with it the lever T, and removing theprojection t from under the spring it. In consequence of this the springcomes into contact with the screw g, and thus closes at once a shortcircuit around the lamp and the electro-magnet. The position of theparts when the manual cut-out has been operated is shown in dotted linesin Fig. 3. A special advantage of this form and arrangement of cut-outis that the operating parts thereof are situated below the point ofattachment for the lamp-shade, and can be reached without difficulty.

In Fig. 3 I show the details of a restoring device for the arm m. Itconsists of a rod,u, which is capable of being moved up and down inperforations in the base 0 and the frame E. A cap, y, is attached to thelower end of the rod, and a spring, 11, located within the cap andpressing against the end of a sleeve, 2', which surrounds the rod, andextends for a short distance into the cap, tends to keep the rod downout of the way of the arm on. The arm is raised by pushing up on the capy, and the actuating-rod is returned automatically by the spring. Thisrestoring mechanism also can be operated from beneath the lampshade.

In order to secure the necessary attractive power, and also thenecessary resistance for my magnet, I wind it partly with copper andpartly with German-silver wire. In the present instance theGerman-silver wire (which I wind 011 the outside of the coil) serves notonly as a magnetic medium and a rheostat, but also as a means of fusingthe rod p in case the electro-magnet fails to operate with sufficientrapidity. It will thus be seen that the devices in question do notsimply operate alternatively, but cooperate to the same end.

I have shown my cut-out as applied to a single incandescent lamp; but Imay with equal advantage apply it to two or more lamps, or to a lamphaving two or more filaments. My manner of successively short-circuitingsuch a group of lamps or filaments by electromagnetic means has,however, been fully set forth in Letters Patent Nos. 327,7 and 327,796,granted October 6,1885, to Charles Heisler, the present applicant. It isnot thought necessary to illustrate the use of my cut-out with more thana single lamp, although I do not desire to be confined to such usealone. In fitting the cut-out for application to two lamps, a socketedscrew-post similar to I would be substituted for the nut 71., and afourth socketed post would be added, capable of adjustment, for reasonsstated above. The posts would also be set at an angle, to allow thelamps sufficient room.

I prefer to make all the metallic parts of my cut-out, not. alreadydescribed otherwise, of brass, except, of course, the magnet-core andarmature, which are of soft iron. The contact-arms may be of copper, andthe pivots may be of steel or any preferred metal. IVith thisconstruction there is the smallest possible danger of the derangement ofthe device from corrosion. In general a cylindrical casing, as 0, willsurround the parts fitting into the cap I) at one end, and secured tothe base C by a screw.

Mydevice might be applied to an arc lamp or agroup of are lamps withoutdeparting from the'spirit of my invention.

The lampshade (not shown) will be applied above or to the body of thecut-out by any suitable means.

'While I prefer to employ a rod, p, made of some easily-fusible alloy,yet I may employ any fusible substance not metallic, and may give it anysuitable shape other than that of a rod. In that case thelightning-arrester would be dispensed with, or it would be so arrangedthat the spark should pass near enough the nonmetallic substance to fuseit.

In Fig. 7 both the binding-posts at the bottom of the cut-out arerepresented as stationary. Moreover, the armature of the magnet is shownas attached to a forward extension of the standard E and as being heldaway from the magnet by a retractile spiral spring. These and otherminor alterations are made, so that the parts can be arranged to showthe circuits more clearly.

I show and describe but do not claim in the present application anadjustable circuitterminal or binding-post and means accessible beneaththe lamp-shade for short-circuiting the lamp. I reserve the right toclaim the same in future applications.

I do not broadly claim a shunt or cut-out consisting of a lever or itsequivalent, combined with a coil adapted to be heated by the excessivecurrent with the interposed thermal devices, or the interposed fusibleor softening device between the lever and the coil, and I limit myclaims to the elements in combination, as below specified.

Having now described my invention, what I claim, and desire to securebyLetters Patent, 1s

1. The combination, in a single device, of a thermal and anelectro-magnetic cutout in operative proximity to each other, thethermal cut-out being brought into operation by the overheating of thecoils of the electro-magnet resulting from the imperfect action of thesaid magnet or its total failure to act, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with an electric lamp, of an electro-niagneti ccut-out and a thermal cut-out, consisting of electrical connectionsbetween the terminals of the line through the frame, and a fusible rodor equivalent connection arranged by the side of the coil of theelectro-magnet and holding the said connections out of contact, and ametallic point located near the rod and connected to the opposite poleof the line, whereby both coils and lamps are short-circuited, substaniially as de scribed.

3. The combination, in an automatic cut out for electric lamps, with anelectro-magnet and means operated by its action for shortcircuiting thelamp, of. a fusible rod or piece located near the magnetcoils,short-circuitin g devices released by the fusing of the rod or piece,and a metallic point located near the rod and connected to the oppositepole of the lamp, whereby on the failure of the electromagnet to act ashort circuit will be formed by the fusing of the rod orpiece, either bythe heating of the magnet-coils or by a spark from the metallic point,substantially as described.

s. In combination with an electric lamp, an electro-magnet andconnections with the line, substantially as described, whereby theelectro-magnet short-circuits the lamp when said lamp fails tooperate,'an easilyfusible piece or rod, a second short circuit for thelamp held open by the easily-fusible piece or rod, and aconducting-point located near the easily-fusible piece or rod andconnected to the opposite pole of the lamp, whereby on failure of themagnet-switch a second short circuit may be closed by the spark from thepoint melting the piece or rod, all substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aiiix in presence of two witnesses.

CHAS. IIEISLER.

my signature \Vitnesses:

WALTER AL'FDERHEIDE, WM. WURDACK.

ITS

